OFFICIAL MINUTES
MUSCATINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
JANUARY 21, 2009
The Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) met in regular session
on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. in the lower level conference room at the
Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore. Members present included Ramiro Vazquez, Mary
Anne Kessler, Jane Reischauer, Dan Clark and Devin Pettit. Others present included
Michael Maharry (Friends of Historic Preservation), Eric Furnas (Muscatine County
Building Official), Sherry Seright (Muscatine County Budget Coordinator), Charles
Potter (KWPC) and staff assistant Jim Rudisill.
The commission reviewed the consent agenda, including the distributed meeting
agenda and the minutes of the regular December 17, 2008 meeting.
Clark advised the commission he would alter the order of the agenda to
accommodate the county guests so they would not need to stay for the entire meeting,
unless they wished.
Pettit requested a correction in the minutes, explaining his discussion with council
member Phil Fitzgerald had not concerned the council representative to the MHPC. He
said the entire sentence should be deleted from the minutes.
There were no other changes or any additions to the consent agenda. .
Pettit moved to approve the consent agenda with the corrected minutes and
agenda changes; Reischauer seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
The first agenda item was a review of Certified Local Government (CLG)
activities, which included a number of discussion items. Clark reported he had talked to
city administrator AJ Johnson concerning several issues. As a general impression, Clark
said Johnson felt the community’s understanding and appreciation of the MHPC’s role
and responsibilities were continuing to improve; and the examination conducted by the
MHPC last month had helped with that process.
The commission then reviewed the 2008 Annual Report, which was the first item
included in the overall CLG agenda category. Rudisill updated the members on two
possible additional studies that might be added to the report. The studies focused on the
archaeology and architecture of the Carver Corner area. Rudisill said he would talk with
Planning Director Steve Boka to confirm those studies should be included.
There was also a short update on additional building renovations taking place in
the West Hill that will be added to the report.
Following the discussion, Pettit moved to approve the 2008 Annual Report;
Kessler seconded; motion passed, all ayes.
The commission next reviewed Clark’s meeting with Johnson and the various
CLG issues they discussed, including a potential MHPC budget, council representative to
the MHPC and cooperation with a proposed Muscatine County CLG.
Clark said he presented the December MHPC minutes to Johnson and asked him
to read the section dealing with the commission’s discussion on the community/MHPC
relationship. When he read the section on the appointment of a council representative to
the MHPC, Clark said Johnson thought that would be problematic. Johnson explained
such an appointment could create the appearance of a conflict of interest for the
appointed council member, Clark told the commission.
MHPC Minutes
January 21, 2009
Page 2
Clark said he and Johnson also discussed the enabling ordinance that established
the MHPC and the importance to commission members that the ordinance’s procedures
and policies be understood and followed by community residents and city officials. That
led to additional discussion on the upcoming ten-year anniversary of the commission’s
establishment. Johnson suggested that would be an appropriate time to recognize MHPC
activities and the impact the activities have made on the community, Clark said.
Clark said he and Johnson agreed that much of the previous attention given to the
commission has been during “crisis” events and conducting some recognition events
during less confrontational times would help to bolster the image of the commission and
its mission. Johnson also believed the community was now more aware of the MHPC’s
purpose and more sophisticated about the need for the commission, Clark added.
Clark also reported that during the sweeping discussion on the commission and its
role in the community, he raised the issue of a commission line item in the city’s budget.
Clark said he told Johnson the lack of a budget contributed to the perception among its
members that the commission and its functions were not valued.
Clark said Johnson mentioned the commission once had a line item and he also
acknowledged a budget item would provide the commission with a “seat at the table.”
However, Johnson indicated it might be too late to add any request this year; and when or
if anything is eventually added, it would likely be a token amount, Clark added.
The two also discussed Muscatine County’s interest in establishing a countywide
historic preservation commission; and the desire of county officials to seek grant funding
to assist with renovation of historic county buildings within Muscatine, Clark said.
Although Johnson identified some recent friction between the city and the county
over other issues, he supported finding some way to assist the county with forming its
own commission and other preservation efforts, Clark reported.
The assistance might include allowing staff assistant Jim Rudisill to assist with
grant applications, he continued. Following that report, Furnas and Seright told the
commission they felt the county could prepare any grant application, if Rudisill was
available to assist with proofreading, final review and similar help or guidance.
The two also reported there had not been any response from county residents to
serve as members of a possible county historic preservation commission. Clark had
earlier reported that during his talk with Johnson that Johnson had mentioned the lengthy
list of city residents who had applied for membership on the new city commission.
Furnas and Seright both indicated they would welcome the opportunity to develop a
similar list of county residents, but found the lack of response disappointing. Potter
suggested a couple of West Liberty individuals who might be interested and the county
officials said they would contact them.
Both the county officials and the commission members agreed the two groups
should continue to coordinate any efforts to establish a county preservation commission.
Clark also reported there had not been any progress with holding a joint training
program with Louisa County. He will continue those efforts.
MHPC Minutes
January 21, 2009
Page 3
The commission next discussed two issues dealing with Mulberry Avenue. The
first item was a progress update on the Mulberry Avenue survey. Pettit reported he is
continuing to work on his assigned properties. The other members indicated they had
stalled on their work, but would continue as time allowed.
The second Mulberry Avenue issue was an update on the house/property owned
by the Muscatine Art Center (MAC) at 1402 Mulberry. Clark reported he was continuing
to communicate with Susan Jayne, a descendent of Henry Jayne, who built the house.
Clark also said he had started a Friends of HPC Facebook page and nearly 100 people
had already joined.
Clark said he missed the January 15 meeting of the MAC Board of Directors, but
had talked to Barb Christensen later and learned there had not been any discussion
concerning the property.
Clark also reported he had talked to Johnson concerning the property and its
ownership. Clark said he explained to Johnson the MHPC’s concerns over the lack of
knowledge of the MHPC; and the appearance that city boards and commissions were not
aware of each other’s activities or functions.
Several others at the meeting also commented.
Pettit said if the house at 1402 Mulberry is eventually demolished - which he
pointed out was included in the draft Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) plan presented
to the Muscatine Planning & Zoning Commission on January 13 - constructing an
auxiliary building or an addition to the art center on the vacant land would still impact the
historic significance of the art center. He said a final version of the CIP did not include
the demolition goal.
Maharry said he was encouraged the demolition had been removed from the
development plan and the MHPC had been able to impact decisions earlier in the process,
especially with the report from David Arbogast concerning the good condition of the
house. He also pointed out the art center had purchased two properties on Cedar Street
and wondered about their value to the center for expansion.
Kessler questioned whether the Arbogast report had as much impact as desired,
since electricians and plumbers reportedly had examined the house and said it would be
expensive to upgrade those systems.
Clark said the MHPC had made its case, but acknowledged the final decision
would be up to the art center board. Kessler said the MHPC should continue to monitor
the property and Maharry suggested the city council should be updated on the status of
property.
In the meantime, Clark said Johnson had reported during their meeting that he felt
there was more awareness now of the MHPC concerns and everyone would be more alert
to the situation.
Reischauer next reported on the status of the MHPC funds being held by the
Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. She reported there was no additional
clarification concerning the foundation’s refusal to transfer the funds to the Friends of
Historic Preservation. Reischauer said a new part-time financial officer had recently been
hired by the foundation and she would contact that person for more information.
MHPC Minutes
January 21, 2009
Page 4
Rudisill next reported there had not been any additional progress on loading the
digital survey reports and National Register applications for West Hill and the Downtown
onto the Musser Public Library’s website. He said the library was currently in the process
of upgrading the site and the reports would likely not be added until that process was
completed.
The next item on the agenda was a request from AJ Johnson for the MHPC to
consider whether a truck parking restriction within historic districts should be
incorporated into the city’s traffic ordinance.
The commission had discussed the issue a few months ago, but had opted not to
make any recommendation at that time because they felt the initial cause of concern had
been removed. However, Rudisill said Johnson had requested a more documented review
with a formal recommendation presented to him.
Rudisill said he had contacted Paula Mohr, the CLG Coordinator in the State
Historic Preservation Office, and requested any information on similar restrictions in
other cities. Mohr had responded that she did not have any specific information herself,
but had forwarded the request to a listserve of other historic preservation officials around
the country. Several of those had responded with examples, which Rudisill then
distributed to the commission members. He also provided copies of Muscatine’s existing
traffic ordinance.
Clark assigned Pettit to coordinate the review with the city’s ad-hoc parking
committee and possibly the Muscatine Planning and Zoning Commission and bring a
recommendation back to the MHPC next month.
Several general reports were then presented to the MHPC.
Maharry updated the commission on the Friends meeting from the week before.
He said the Historic Preservation Month planning for the tour of former/current
Muscatine doctors’ homes planned for Sunday, May 10, would be titled “House Calls.”
Several properties have been identified, but additional locations must still be determined.
The presentation of certificates will be conducted with the MHPC on Saturday, May 9.
Kessler reported 40 more copies of the
Rooftops of Muscatine
have been ordered.
Clark also reported Muscatine Mayor Richard O’Brien had agreed to deliver a
proclamation declaring February 22-28 as Alexander Clark week in Muscatine. Mayor
Walter Conway had declared the first Alexander Clark Day in February 1958. Clark said
he was hoping to get a state resolution approved and was talking with local legislators.
He also advised the commission that a reception would be held at the Muscatine Art
Center on February 22 in recognition of Muscatine’s “colored orator of the West.”
The next meeting of the commission will be held Wednesday, February 18.
The commission then adjourned at approximately 6:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Chair